Poles set sights on three new minehunters to boost naval fleet

Poland plans to purchase three more Kormoran II-class minehunters this year, the country’s Minister of National Defence Mariusz Blaszczak revealed.

Poland plans to further boost its naval fleet with new mine countermeasure vessels (MCVs) in the coming months. According to Blaszczak, the contract for the new vessels is to be awarded by June this year.

“This will allow us to maintain competence and maintain continuity of production in Polish shipyards,” the minister further emphasized.

Kormoran II-class minehunters are 58,5 meters long and have a complement of 45 personnel and a top speed of 15 knots. 

The non-magnetic steel-hulled ships displace 850 tons, feature the locally-developed SCOT-M combat management system and are equipped with Saab’s Double Eagle Mk III remotely operated vehicle (ROV). They are armed with a twin-barreled auto-cannon in addition to machine guns and rocket launchers.

The lead ship ORP Kormoran (601) was commissioned on 28 November 2017. The second vessel Albatros was launched in 2019, and the construction of the third vessel started the same day. With this new purchase, the Polish Navy will operate a total of six Kormoran II-class minehunters.

To remind, the Polish Armaments Agency recently selected Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 (AH140) (the UK version-Type 31 frigates) for future frigates. Babcock will support the PGZ-MIECZNIK Consortium for the three AH140 frigates to be built in Polish shipyards by a local workforce.